When I look back at the teachers, instructors, and facilitators whose classes I had the pleasure of attending, those who stood out where the ones who bring in their energy and passion for learning in the classroom; whether online or in face-to-face settings. Through many years of being in facilitator for learning, I developed the ability to listen to my gut when I am in the classroom. Inquiry and curiosity form the foundation of my teaching style.
Engaging our diverse student population and preparing them for success
I ask questions about how my learners are progressing in their courseware, as I am naturally curious of how students learn. The process makes me a better instructional designer, course developer, and professor. I believe in being a chameleon facilitator. Knowledge of the many styles of teaching through my years of experience is critical to my effectiveness. With a clear understanding of our diverse student population, I can create a hybrid teaching style for a specific class cohort. At the same time, I can adjust and flex as needed to ensure the highest transfer of knowledge between students and I, as well as amongst themselves. I build learner engagement activities that create opportunities for various learning capabilities.
Leveraging state-of-the technology for increased learner participation
As a career learning professional, my passion lies in continuous learning. I believe in learning as a three-prong approach of formal, informal, and social, forming a ‘three-legged stool’ resulting in a holistic learning environment. When I am able to leverage technology, I can extend what learners have acquired in the classroom to their workplace and create opportunities to share that learning. The use of technology is especially important for our highly tech-adept students thus I encourage the incorporation of social collaboration tools and apps in my class content to support the learner sustainability framework. When I am teaching online, there are natural avenues for additional student collaboration that I leverage. When technology is unavailable, I can use communities and networks of practice using non-technology based collaboration channels.
Role modelling continuous learning and contributing to building a high-performing organization
In as much as my career’s focus revolves around development of learning sustainability frameworks, I follow what I implement in my classes by continually learning myself. In keeping up with new ways of learning, I am able to role model this activity through the real world examples I use in my classes, through publication and through conference sessions. Antecedent to the role modelling of learning is sharing knowledge with colleagues and staff, which supports an enhancement of our overall organization performance towards continuous high-performance.
Learning is a fascinating journey for me that not only have I decided to have a career out of it, I continually share my learning with others through the profession of professorship.
Comments